Francisco Cervelli has gotten a ticket to more playing time behind the plate thanks to the injuries to Mark Teixeira and Kelly Johnson. Brian McCann has been needed to fill the hole at first base, leaving Cervelli to catch.

He has started five straight games — his longest stretch since he caught 10 straight in May of 2010 — and has done fine. Cervelli has four doubles in the last three games. He has hit safely in nine of his past 10 starts, batting .400 (14 for 35) with six doubles and three RBI in those games. His hitting streak is at seven games.

Last year, he missed the final 140 games due to a fractured hand and his 50-game Biogenesis-related suspension. And then he missed 55 games after suffering a hamstring strain April 13. But he’s at .356 (16 for 45) since being reactivated June 17, which includes a 2-for-3 effort in Friday night’s 6-4 win over the Blue Jays.

“I just think as he has gotten more at-bats under his belt, he understands what people are trying to do to him and he understands what he needs to do,” Joe Girardi said. “Cervi’s biggest issue is — he had the concussion issue (in 2011) and … he broke the hand last year — getting nicked up.

“But when he’s played for us, he’s played really well. It’s a nice player to have on your team because he allows you to do a lot of things with (McCann). In a situation where we don’t have a first baseman, we can run Mac at first every day, and it’s worked out well.

“Cervi, it was tough when we lost him last year because he had started to take over that No. 1 spot and was playing extremely well and swinging the bat extremely well. But he’s just matured and understands what he needs to do.”

Here’s my story on last night’s victory and the Yankees’ domination of Mark Buehrle as well as the Jays when they come to the Bronx. And here’s my feature story on today’s starter Chris Capuano. He’s rather happy to be here and starting again.